September 20, 2010

Almost fifty percent of women with pre-pregnancy diabetes have C-sections to deliver their babies compared to 27 percent of women without diabetes, finds a Canadian study. As rates of diabetes rise, particularly among women of childbearing age, researchers are seeing more evidence of pregnancy complications. Here, some highlights of the study: Rates of major and minor birth defects are 60 percent higher in babies whose mothers have pre-gestational diabetes than in those without diabetes. The rate of stillbirth or neonatal fatality is twice as high in women with pre-pregnancy diabetes than in those without diabetes. Most diabetes can be prevented by controlling glucose and blood pressure, say researchers who hope this study will help reduce or prevent diabetes among young women.

Rosuvastatin, sold commercially as Crestor and used to treat high cholesterol, has been found to suppress the growth of transplanted human prostate cancer cells in mice, finds new research by Dr. Xiao-Yan Wen at St. Michaels Hospital, Canada. "Our data provided solid pre-clinical evidence and a strong rationale for clinical trials of statins in the treatment of prostate cancer," said Wen. Additionally, use of the statin to suppress prostate cancer cells yielded no apparent side effects. Human trials might confirm that statins optimize the benefits of radiation in the treatment of prostate cancer, helping medical professionals to determine the least toxic and most effective treatment for the disease. The study is published in September’s issue of European Urology.

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month to bring attention to the epidemic of childhood obesity in the US. As part of this initiative, Mary Ann Liebert has launched a bimonthly, print and online journal entitled Childhood Obesity. With rates of this epidemic increasing annually, Liebert calls for a multidisciplinary approach to assess and aid obese children and adolescents. "The warriors in this war must be many ... physicians, educators, community members who interact with children, members of parent-teacher associations, food manufacturers, nutritionists, and other healthcare professionals—many of whom find it difficult to tell parents that their children are overweight and then don't see these patients often enough to monitor the problem," says Liebert.

Teenagers are more likely to spend their weekends in front of a tv screen than engaged in physical activity, finds a study that analyzed the behavior of 3278 adolescents. "A sedentary lifestyle has become one of the major public health problems in developed countries", says Juan P. Rey-López, lead author. "During the week, one-third of teenagers said they watched more than two hours of television per day. At weekends, this figure exceeds 60 percent. Our findings support the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics not to put televisions in teenagers' bedrooms, in order to (theoretically) reduce the amount of time they spend watching the television.” Rey-Lopez agrees to the presence of a computer in a kid’s bedroom saying it reduces the risk of excessive tv watching.

Exposure to atmospheric pollutants can raise the risk of sudden cardiac arrest, finds a new study conducted by researchers from Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJ) and The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research. Comparing data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that tracks air pollution throughout the US with data from 8216 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests that occurred between 2002 and 2006, researchers found that for a 10ug/m3 rise in small particle air pollution, there was a four-to-10 percent increase in cardiac arrests. The current EPA standard for air pollution is 35ug/m3. "Small particulate matter is dangerous to health," said Dr. Robert A. Silverman, LIJ. "We need to figure out ways to combat air pollution and decrease the number of high-pollution days."

Researchers have found a possible link between gum disease and preterm births says a study by a periodontal researcher from the U of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. The study examined 322 pregnant women, all with gum disease. Half were treated with root planing and scaling while the other half received only oral hygiene tips. Both groups were followed up 20 weeks after treatment to learn if it was successful. Results showed that pregnant woman who maintained good oral hygiene were much less likely to deliver preterm babies than those who did not maintain oral health. Says lead author Marjorie Jeffcoat, Penn Dental Medicine, “ ... successful periodontal treatment when rendered as an adjunct to conventional obstetric care may reduce the incidence of preterm birth."

The American College of Physicians coupled with AARP to launch a website to help consumers understand the new health care law. The site is divided into sections for those who have health insurance, are uninsured or are looking for appropriate coverage. It also has sections for people on Medicare, small business owners seeking insurance for their employees and for people who may be planning for long-term care. "Health care is among the most important and personal issues facing our members and all Americans," said AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond. "As the new health care law rolls out over the next four years, we'll continue to make sure that people understand how it will affect them." The guide can be downloaded here: http://www.acponline.org/healthlawconsumerinfo.

Produce for Kids (PFK) has teamed up with four large grocers to support the organization’s annual “Eat Smart for a Great Start” fall campaign which benefits PBS KIDS. Between now and October 28, Price Chopper, Ahold’s Giant-Carlisle and Martin’s Food Stores, Meijer, and Publix Super Markets will make a donation to PBS Kids based on the sales of fresh produce items at participating stores in 20 states. The program provides families and teachers with educational content, resources, and outreach materials to promote healthy eating among children. “We want to teach people that it is easy to make healthy eating part of their family’s daily regimen and stick to a budget at the same time,” said PFK executive director Heidi McIntyre.“

Concern about the health and weight status of both employees and visitors to government agencies, Boston health regulators are considering the restriction or prohibition of the sale of sugary soft drinks on city-owned property. Boston has convened leaders in health, education and housing to develop a policy aimed at reducing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages in an effort to combat the rising obesity epidemic. Harvard researchers have found that women in particular who drink two or more sugar-containing beverages a day had a 40 percent higher risk of heart disease. Both San Francisco and New York City have adopted policies that restrict the sales of sugary soft drinks in vending machines in city buildings.

Researchers at University of California San Diego have found a protein in mice that not only regulates our sleep-wake cycle but also regulates how much glucose the liver makes. As our sleep-wake patterns have become more disrupted, obesity and type 2 diabetes have directly increased. The protein, cryptochrome, regulates the biological clocks of plants, fruit flies and mammals. Researchers discovered that cryptochrome is also part of a pathway that regulates glucose production in the liver. Glucose production by the liver is not needed when we are awake and eating, but it increases when we sleep or are fasting. By altering levels of the protein, researchers were able to improve the health of diabetic mice. Further research will involve finding compounds that alter cryptochrome levels.

By simply measuring waistlines and triglycerides during in the first trimester of pregnancy, women who are at risk of developing gestational diabetes can take preventative measures such as healthy eating, exercise and medication before six months when most cases are diagnosed. A study involving 144 women showed those with waistlines greater than 33.5 inches plus elevated triglycerides in the first trimester were at a higher risk of have a higher score on a blood glucose test, an indicator of gestational diabetes. Both are also markers of obesity which increases a woman’s risk for gestational diabetes. Health problems for the baby can also occur such as jaundice, low blood sugar levels, low blood mineral levels, trouble breathing and c-section because the baby is bigger than normal.